Apparatus for applying extended surface elements to the tubes of heat exchange devices



April 21, 1 1 M. FRISCH 2,280,068 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING EXTENDED SURFACE ELEMENTS TOTHE- TUBES OF HEAT EXCHANGE DEVICES F1186. DGC. 20, 1938 l 2 Sh69t$$h98t 1 INVENTQR April 21, 1942.

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING EXTENDED SURFACE ELEMENTS TO THE 'TUBES OF HEAT EXCHANGE'DEVICES Filed Dec. 20, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill INVENTOR 7 /74er//v f2, H

- V ATTORNEY ing'the invention;

Patente Apr-2 1 2.

Martin Frisclr, New York, N; Y.

r Wheeler Corporation Application December 20, 1938, serisinmziasaz Claims. (0119-84) This invention relates" to heat exchange ap paratusl and more particularly pertains to @heat exchange; equipment having .extended surface elements on the tubes thereof and tomeans for applying these elements m the tubes.

The invention provides a novel Fmachine for applying extended-surface elements to th e tubes of heat exchange devices. t l

The nature of the iriventionwill be understood from thejiollowing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a partfthereof, and in which:

Fig. lisa top plan view, of a machine embody- Fig. 2 is a sideelevational view oithex nachine shown inli'ig. 1:, V 1

, Fig.3 is an enlarged partial longitudinalsectional View ofthe, Tpis'tonhead and sleeve of the machine;

r Fig. 4 is a viewsimilarftoj Fig a utshawrng another position of lthepiston headand sleeve;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectionaljview showing another form oi piston head andsleeve, and

' Fig. 6 isa transversesectional view takenon,

line 6 -6 oiFig; 5. t

Like characters of reference refer to the same or to similarparts throughout the several views. The embodimentsoi the machine selected for type showniinFigs. 3andj4, to steeltubes of U- bend form; but it willbeunderstood that the in.- vention iscapable of general applicationand may :be used to apply extended surface members 'of any form or material to any cooperating tubular member oftanymaterial. o l

The extended surface members shown consist of aplurality of separate discs of aluminum or aluminum alloy, each, of which isprovided with an annular hub flange or hub ll whichlextends radially outwardly iron pne' side offthe inner peripheral portion of the disc. The inner cylindricalsurface or the flange H is of "a diameter slightly less thal'l the outer cylindrical sur- Iace of the tube I! so thatthe discs must be surface II of each flange ll isinclined outwardly from the side 0! the disc from which the flange New lfork,

, assignor to Foster l N; Y., a cordrical surface or the retaining ringsis preferahly H flange ll so that the rings may he driven onto H theflanges II to provide a good driving fit. De-

sirably, thefinner cylindrical portion of they ,sornewhatless than that of the surface I3 of discsxlll and the flanges ll maybe cut or formed l to provide one or more slots, not shown. Such slots provide the hub portions ofthe discs with a degree of resiliency they would not possess otherwise and facilitate the securing ofthe discs to the tubes and the maintenance of good thermal,contact between the discs and tubes when the; temperature of both is increased. An annular flange l6 extendsoutwardly from the same side of the discs from which the. flange extends and is spaced from the flange i I, radially foutwardly thereof a distance which is suflicient' so as not to interfere with the, application of the ,retaining rings ll,;and provides a shroud, or

shielding means for the rings It toprevent ex posure of these rings to the fluidon the outside of the heating elements. The flange I6 is proportioned so that its outer end portion fits snugly into an annular recess in the adjacent disc,

as clearlyishown in Fig. 3. l

The machine forapplying the extendedsurface elements to the tubes issupported on an H- beam which is supported at its ends by H- illustration are arrangedto apply extended surface-discs of aluminumoraluminum alloy, of the i5 iorcedjonto the tubes. The outer cylindrical beams 2| and 22. Theform of the machine selected for illustration is arranged to apply the extended surface elements to U -bend tubular heat exchange elements having legs 23 and Q24.

, A tube supporting device 25 receives and retains inposition theKU-bend. portion of the ,tubular s element, and supporting device 26 receives and retains one end of a centering bar 21, the other endofwhich is inserted. in the end of upper leg U to hold in position the free ends of the tubular elements during application of the extended surface members to the lower leg 24. Supportingqdevice 25 includes anelement housing 28 having a recess therein shaped to receive the U- bend portionof the tubular element, a drift pin 29 to, retain the U-bend portion in the housing 28, an element housing support 30 which may be fixed in the. desired position to the H -beam 20 l at one end thereof, and a latch pin 3|, the inner extends and toward thel axisgoi' the tube Retaining rings ,made of steel havingja coeflicient of expansion equal to, or somewhat less than, that o! thesteel tube are-provided with a tapering or inclined inner cylindrical surface whichcooperates with the inclined surface l3 of flange II. The diameter of the inner cylin- 'end 01 which projects, under spring pressure, into one 01 two spaced recesses. 32 in the housing 28. The supporting device 26 is fixed to H -beam 20, orfitumay be movable with respect to the beam Ill and have means to fix it in the desired position. Centering bar 21 is secured in position, in the device .126. by means of *a screw 33.

The lower portion of the devlce 28 has an opening 34 through whichprojects the means for forcing the extended'surface discs on the tubular elements. As shown, such means comprises an hydraulic motor, the cylinder 35 of which is flxed to the right hand end portion of the H-beam 20 and the piston rod 35 of which carries a head 31 on its outer end which in turn carries a sleeve 33 thereon. Referring more particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, the piston rod head 31 has a reduced right hand end portion 33 which is threaded into the outer'end of piston rod 38, and a pin 43 which passes through the rod and head retains the latter in position on the rod. The left hand end portion of the head 31 has a reduced part 4|, the outer end ofQwhichengages the being applied to'the' tube"i2, and a reducedpart 4 I which in. diam ter head. Sleeve, is-jrotatably supported on' the amilia "41 head 31. The'outer end 1 ,7 need in thickness and engages theretaining forces it into place 'aftertheextendedfsurfacedisc it, has been driven homeiijThefright hand end of sleeve 38 has piur uty orspa dincimed surfaces .43 which move-on corresponding surfaces on the head 31.

The inclined-surfaces 43 are spaced by surfaces 44 on the sleeve; and head; respectively which are 7 disposedfltransverselyf' to the axis of the head and sleeve; The arrangement, isv such that the sleeve maybe rotated by hand or'otherwise, so thatfthe outer nqpr the sleeve will lie to the right of the"oi1ter'endof head 31 as shown in Fig. 3, or will be 'polsitioned about even with the beyond the 'end of tube l2 and guides the tube into the head 31"and the hollow piston rod.

The stroke of the motor which operates head 31 shouldbe at least equal to, the total overall length o'fthe'discs to be applied. The piston rod 35 jis'hollow of suchinside diameter that the, tube l3, may, enter the rod when the discs areiap'plied. IfPower means other than the hydraulicmotor mentioned, may be used to actuate the-head ng Theoperation is as follows: A u-bend tube It upon which discs llare to be affixed, is mounted on the machine with its U-bend end -in the housing" 28'. ,Draft'pin fl is then put in place and.

tightened up, after which centering bar 21 is put 7 into the upper leg 23 of the element to support the upper-leg, and the screw 33 is tightened to hold :ii i int e h m-.1 lithe central portion of the 1 leg '24, and the tubular element with the housing- 90 which moves the sleeve into the position shown in Fig. 4, the piston is then moved again toward the disc II and the ring I4 is forced into position on the flange II as shown in Fig. 4. Thereafter, the piston rod and head 31 are returned to their first position, sleeve 33 is turned 90 to its first position, and the cycle is completed. Another disc is placed on pilot 45 and another retaining ring II is placed on part 4| of head 31, and the cycle previously described is repeated until the desired number of discs III has been applied to the lower leg 24 of the tubular element.

Thereafter, latch pin 3| is, withdrawn from aperture 32, centering bar 21 is withdrawn from leg 23, pilot 45 is removed fromthe end of lower 25 attached thereto, is turned 180 to bring the 7 leg 23 in alignment with the piston head 31. The

the bar 21 in place. Pilot 45 is next placed in the end of the lower leg 24. A disc I0 is then placed over the end of the pilot 45 and a retaining is placed on the end of part-4| of head 31 in the position shown in Fig. 3, the sleeve 38 first having been turned so that it is in its extreme right hand position also as shown in Fig. 3. Cylinder 35 is operated, pilot 45 enters the head 31 and the outer end of part 4| of head 31 engages the flange II and drives the disc III on the tube l2 and into its final position on the tube. During.

the sleeve 331s rotated through an angle of about 7 latch pin, centering bar and pilot are replaced and the machine is ready to apply discs and their retaining rings to the leg 23 in the manner previously described. When all the discs have been applied to the leg 23, the element is removed from the machine and the next element to which discs are to be applied is positioned in the machine.

Preferably, the power means to apply the discs and rings is provided with two forward speeds and pressures, one high speed at low pressure to force the discs onto the tubes and the other, a low speed at high pressure-up to the capacity of the power means-for forcing the retaining rings onto the disc flanges. However, other speeds and pressures may be employed, or the same speed and pressure may be used for both operations. v

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the outer end of the hollow piston rod 33 has flxed thereto and in axial alignment therewith, an inner sleeve 53 having about the same inside diameter as the piston rod 35. An outer sleeve 5| which slides freely on the inner sleeve 50 is shorter in axial length than sleeve 53 and, as shown, is provided at its outer end with an annular flange 52 which'flts over the shroud I5 of the disc I. and engages the outwardly extending portion of the disc. The outer end of'piston rod 35 and the inner end of sleeve 53 are provided with cooperating annular flanges, and the inner end of outer sleeve 5| is also provided with an annular flange. In order that the disc Il may be driven on the tube leg 24 independently of the -retaining ring |4, means are providedto-cause the outer end of the sleeve 5| to project beyond theouter end of sleeve 53, so that the disc ll may be driven on the tube leg flrst and to permit the outer end of sleeve 53 to project beyond the outer'end of sleeve 5|, so that the retaining ring 14 may be driven on the flange of the disc. In the form shown, such means comprises a split collar 53, the two cooperating parts of which arev pivotally connected and have latch means, such as designated '54, to hold the two parts together.

The'collar has a main portion which is arranged the disc i0 is being forced into place. The two parts of the splitcoliar need not be connected wise, that is to say, the two parts may be completely independentif desired. a

The operation of the machine with this form of piston rod head is the same as that described for the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4, excepting that to force the disc lll into place, the collar 53 is a h 2,280,068 together" either in theh'iflnner shown,;or otherengaging andpositioning an element, and ring applying-meansat thesame end'of said plunger so constructed as to be selectively advanced ahead of said element applying means for engaging and applyin ring.

used andthe outer sleeve Ii engages the disc,

after which the piston head is backed up ashort distance-the collar 53 is removedso as to permit the inner sleeve 5|! toproject beyond the end of sleeve 5| and to engage thering ll and drive it j into position on the flange, of the disc. Thepiston. rod head is thereafter withdrawn again to allow another'discand ring to be placed in position to-be applied to the tube leg, the collar 53 is put in place and the cycleis repeated until all i the discs and rings are in place. A pilot, such as 3 ay or may not. be used with the piston: rod head shown in Figs.5and6.

Since changes maybe made in the form, location and relative arrangement of the several parts 5. Apparatus for applying to tubes; extended surface elements of the type havinga hub flange and a retaining ring for engaging said flange to secure the element to the tube to which it is applied, comprising means'for holding the tube to which the elements are "to be applied, means including a tubular member arrangedto telescope the tube and to engage and to position an element on the tube, a second tubular member carriedbyj the first mentioned tubular member-and adjustable with respect to its position thereon and arrangedto engage in one position a retainof the apparatus disclosed without departing from the principlesof the invention, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited excepting by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. Apparatus for applying extended surface elements to U-bend tubes, comprising a housing to receive and retain the U-bend end portion of one of said tubes, supporting means for said housing, means for detachably connecting the housing to'the supporting means, a centering bar arranged t'ohave one end inserted in the end of one leg of the tube, means for supporting the other end of the bar, and means operable to force the elements onto the other leg of the tube. c

2. Apparatus for applying extended surface elements to U-bend tubes, comprising holdingmeans to support and retain theU-bend end portion of one of said tubes, supporting means connecting the holding means to the supporting and a retaining ring for engaging said flange to 1 ing ring for the hub fla'nge of-said element, and

means--i6r retaining the second tubular member in position to engage the retaining ring.

6. Apparatus ror applyingto tubes, extended surface elements of the type having a hub flange secure the element to the tube to which it is applied, comprising means for holding the tube to which the elementsare to be applied, means ineluding a tubular member arranged to telescope the tube and to engage and to position an element on the tube, a second tubularmember carried by the first mentioned tubular member and for the holding means, means for detachably means, a centering bar arrangedto have one end 1 that it may be detachably, secured to the support:

ing means in one of two positions each the reverse of the other, a centering bar arranged to have one end receivable'in the end of either of the legs of the tube depending on the position of; the holding means whereby either leg is centered by said bar and the, other leg is free, means for releasably holding the other end of the bar, and

adapted to engage an element, means for reciprofor retaining the second tubular member. initsf ring engaging position during the. ring positionsurfaoeelements of the a hub flange and a retaining ring lorengaging said flange to means operableto position the elements onto the free leg of the tubejin either position of th hold: lngmeans. 1 h 4. Apparatus for applying to tubes, extended surface elements of they type having a hubflange and a retaining ring for, engaging said flange to secure the elementto the tube to which it is apadjustable with respect to its position thereon and arrangedto engage in-one position a retaining ring for the hub flange of said element-,-

means for retaining. the second tubular member in position to engage the retaining ring, and means for reciprocating the tubular member, the operation being such that upon movement of the tubular member in one direction the element is forced onto the tube, upon the return movement the second tubular member is adjusted to its retaining ring engaging position and upon the following movement in said one direction the ring is forced onto the flange of the element. a

7. Apparatus for applying to tubes, extended surface elementsof the type having a hub flange, and a retaining ring for engaging said flange to secure the element to the tube to which it is ap plied, comprisingmeansi'or holding the tube to whichthe elementsare to be applied, means including a flrsttubular memberarranged to telescopethe tube, an end of said member being eating said tubular member, a second tubular member carried on the outer end, portion of the first tubularmember and having a retaining ring engaging portion and being adjustable to and from a position to engagesaid ring, and means in'g movement of; the-tubular member. $.Apparatus for applying totubespextended secure the element to the tube to which it is applied, comprising meansrfor holding the tube a .to whichthe elements-are to be applied, means plied, comprising means for holding the tube'to which the elements are to be applied, a plunger. means mounting said plunger for movement toward and from it held tube. element applying including' a first tubular member arranged to telescope thetube, an endof said member-being adapted to engage an" element, means a for reciprocating said tubular member, and a second tubular-member carried on the outel! end portion ofthe flrsttubular memberand having a 'retain ing ring engaging portion and being adjustable team! from a position to engage rlnmthc 1 means at theadvancing end of said plunger for first and second tubular members having cooperable parts arranged to retain the second member in ring engaging position during the ring positioning movement of the tubular memher.

9. Apparatus for applying to tubes, extended surface elements of the type having a'hub flange and a retaining ring for engaging said flange to secure the element vto the tube to which it is applied, comprising means for holding thetube to which the elements are to be applied, means means removable from the first tubular member 20 for retaining the second tubular member in its element engaging position during the element positioning movement of the tubular member.

10. Apparatus for applying to tubes, extended surface elements of the type having a hub flange and a retaining ring for engaging said flange to.

secure the element to the tube to which is it applied, comprising means for holding the tube to which the elements are to be applied, a

plunger, and means mounting the plunger for movement toward and from a held tube, the plunger having element applying means at the advancing end portion thereof adapted to engage and position an element, the plunger also having ring applying means at the advancing end portion thereof adapted to engage and apply a ring,

'- the plunger and both said applying means being constructed and arranged so that one of said applying means may be advanced selectively ahead of the other applying means whereby elements and rings are applied alternately.

. MARTIN F'RISCH. 

